S. 4668 · 119th Congress · Sports and Recreation
Protect College Sports Act of 2026
Establishes requirements for college athlete name-image-likeness agreements and antitrust exemption for sports media rights. AI-read
What it does
This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights. The requirements address elements of the court-approved agreement to settle In re College Athlete NIL Litigation (i.e., House settlement).
First, the bill statutorily prohibits institutions, conferences, or interstate intercollegiate athletic associations (e.g., the National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA]) from restricting student athletes from entering NIL agreements (subject to specified limitations). Students must report to their institution NIL compensation greater than $600.
The bill requires agents to register with a state and caps agent endorsement contract fees at 5%.
The bill also provides student athletes with one transfer without losing athletic eligibility and restricts football personnel from becoming the head football coach at a different institution during the same season.
Further, the bill prohibits institutions, conferences, or specified entities acting for the benefit of an institution from providing athletes with compensation that circumvents the limit on sharing revenue with student athletes established under the House settlement. The bill also makes the limit permanent and provides for an annual inflation adjustment.
The bill generally prohibits Division I conferences from reducing the number of varsity or Olympic sports teams that a member institution must sponsor. Specifically, large institutions ($80 million or more in annual athletics revenue) must offer and maintain at least as many grant-in-aid opportunities and roster spots for sports that do not generate positive net revenue as the institution provided during academic year 2024-25. The bill provides for a waiver of this requirement under certain circumstances of financial hardship and the requirements expire nine years after the enactment of the bill.
Additionally, the bill establishes (subject to specified conditions) a limited antitrust exemption for institutions or conferences that form joint agreements to transfer their sports telecasting rights to a third party. Such an agreement requires participation from at least 75% of the institutions in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Jun 24, 2026 (Reported to Senate). CRS summarizes bills impartially; it does not take positions.
Roll call votes
| Date | Question | Party split (yea) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2026 Senate roll 894 |
On Cloture on the Motion to ProceedA bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes. | D 24–19 · R 49–4 · I 1–1 |
Passed 74–24 |
| Sep 17, 2026 Senate roll 895 |
On the Motion to ProceedA bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes. | D 27–18 · R 49–3 · I 1–1 |
Passed 77–22 |
| Sep 22, 2026 Senate roll 899 |
On the Cloture MotionIn the nature of a substitute. | D 22–17 · R 47–3 · I 1–1 |
Passed 70–21 |
| Sep 24, 2026 Senate roll 901 |
On the AmendmentIn the nature of a substitute. | D 26–19 · R 50–3 · I 1–1 |
Passed 77–23 |
| Sep 24, 2026 Senate roll 902 |
On the Cloture MotionA bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes. | D 24–21 · R 49–3 · I 1–1 |
Passed 74–25 |
| Sep 28, 2026 Senate roll 904 |
On the AmendmentTo modify the provision relating to the relationship of this Act to existing law. | D 45–0 · R 49–1 · I 2–0 |
Passed 96–1 |
| Sep 28, 2026 Senate roll 905 |
On the AmendmentTo improve the bill. | D 0–44 · R 1–48 · I 0–2 |
Failed 1–94 |
| Sep 28, 2026 Senate roll 906 |
On the AmendmentTo limit price increases for college athletics tickets. | D 31–14 · R 9–40 · I 2–0 |
Failed 42–54 |
| Sep 28, 2026 Senate roll 907 |
On the AmendmentTo increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes. | D 45–0 · R 2–50 · I 2–0 |
Failed 49–50 |
| Sep 28, 2026 Senate roll 908 |
On the AmendmentTo establish certain standards with respect to coaches of varsity sports teams. | D 44–1 · R 1–51 · I 2–0 |
Failed 47–52 |
| Sep 28, 2026 Senate roll 909 |
On Passage of the BillA bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes. | D 26–19 · R 50–2 · I 1–1 |
Passed 77–22 |
What members said about it
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Dunn, Díaz-Balart Lead Members in Calling for Changes to College Sports Bill
Congressmen Neal Dunn, M.D. (R-FL-02), and Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL-26) led over 20 members of Congress in a letter to House leadership urging changes to the Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668) before final House passage.
“College athletics need clear national standards, and there is much in this bill that I support.”
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STATEMENT: Senator Blunt Rochester Opposes the Protect College Sports Act
However, while I appreciate the bipartisan work put into this bill, I remain concerned with it — especially in this moment.
“The adequacy of athlete protections has raised concerns for student-athletes, their families, civil rights organizations, labor organizations, and other athlete advocates, and should be fully considered as the legislation moves forward. I’m hopeful that Congress can come back together to find a solution that is fair…”
Latest action
Sep 28, 2026 · Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 77 - 22. Record Vote Number: 250. (text: CR S5044-5063)